Top Earning Cricketers From Across The Globe

The dynamics and importance of money in cricket is an ever-changing entity. Now with an abundance of T20 leagues and franchises, players manage to pocket extravagant amounts of money from such tournaments, with IPL handing out one of the most lucrative offers to contemporary cricketers.

According to reports published after a thorough study by ESPNCricinfo, a number of questions on the financial workings of the game have been answered. While the average Indian player is perceived to earn more than his counterparts from around the globe (courtesy the hullabaloo around BCCI being money-minting lords), the reality is a little different:

The reports stated, “At $23,380 per game, India’s Test cricketers are the most well-rewarded across the world, earning almost twice of what an Australian cricketer gets for a home Test (Australia has different fees for home and away Tests).”

It added, “The figures are based on international cricket, and do not take into account player earnings from T20 leagues, other domestic engagements or endorsements.”

Australian skipper Steven Smith earns the most, when it comes to annual retainer amounts and match fees alone, standing proudly at the top with the $1.47m that he is set to receive this year. The classy English cricketer Joe Root comes in next, sitting pretty on the second spot with $1.38m. And before you go pondering, Virat Kohli walks in, third on the list with a massive earning of 1m.

Smith, considered as the world’s best Test batsman, earns $1.469 million per year. His Indian counterpart Kohli on the other hand also been on a record-breaking streak himself. On the field, as well as off-the-field with his humongous endorsement deals. Reportedly, Kohli has a net worth of $ 22 million.

With a staggering brand value of  $144 million, and he overtook Shah Rukh Khan as the country’s top-ranking celebrity brand recently. Interestingly still, Kohli has quipped that he feels like Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese earn about 40 times (ahem) of what Kohli pockets, despite the Delhite being the richest Indian athlete.

Here is the list of top 10 highest earning players in world cricket: